PRESIDENCY

DEMOCRATS MUST NOMINATE MODERATES

The Democratic Party has lost seven out of the past 10 presidential elections. Not counting the election years 1976, 1992 and 1996, the Republican Party has controlled the White House since 1968.

In each of the three presidential elections won by the Democrats, the party's nominee was perceived as a moderate (Jimmy Carter in 1976, Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996) by the voters.

All three Republican Party nominees who lost the presidency were perceived as right-wing (Gerald Ford in 1976, George H.W. Bush in 1992 and Bob Dole in 1996).

Democrats have lost because their nominees have been perceived as liberals by mainstream voters. For the Democratic Party to start winning more presidential elections, it needs to stop nominating left-of-center (liberal) candidates, because they don't win conservative states.

Nominating moderate candidates is the Democrat Party's key to winning U.S. presidential elections.

SCHOOLS

WASHINGTON MIDDLE TEACHERS GET AN A

I want to express my gratitude to the hard-working teachers at Washington Middle School, where my daughter is a sixth-grade student.

I am impressed with the dedication, imagination and concern each of her teachers displays daily.

Allison began the year not knowing anyone, students or teachers, but the staff made her feel welcome and built her confidence. She now feels at home on campus and enjoys her classes and new friends.

While our schools do have concerns, it is important to spotlight the positive things that are going on.

Test scores do not tell the complete picture and at times distort what is going on in classrooms around O'ahu.

PUBLIC SPENDING

IMPROVING EDUCATION WILL TAKE RESOURCES

In recent years, we have been continuously confronted with criticism about public education in the local media. To criticize is easy, but to find the right solution is hard.

The Bush administration introduced the grandiose scheme of No Child Left Behind. But it has created more pilikia than solution nationwide.

Here in Hawai'i, the Lingle administration similarly introduced a grandiose scheme of breaking up the state Board of Education, thinking that it was the right solution. The Legislature rightly scrapped the idea because multiple districts would create more problems than solutions.

It seems that both the Bush and Lingle administrations feel that public education can be improved "on the cheap" without sufficient funding. This is contrary to the study done by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Money, large sums of money, is essential to help our children achieve the education necessary to prepare them in our competitive world.

SENATE RACE

CASE SHOULD BE ELECTED SO HE CAN GET SENIORITY

One of the many, many reasons Sen. Daniel Inouye is so great for Hawai'i is his seniority in the U.S. Senate.

Seniority matters; it equals power.

Ed Case is 53. If elected to the Senate this year, he could be re-elected twice before reaching Congressman Neil Abercrombie's current age. Then, re-elected twice more before reaching Sen. Dan Akaka's current age. All the while establishing coveted seniority.

Positioning younger talent for future success is a proven strategy of profitable businesses and winning sports organizations.

Hawai'i's electorate can set its U.S. Senate team roster with the future in mind. The combination of Inouye/Case would advocate Hawai'i's interests of today and set the foundation for tomorrow.

Ed Case will serve Hawai'i well for decades to come.

TRAFFIC

H-1 TIE-UP SHOWS VALUE OF DEDICATED BUSWAYS

Traffic jams on H-1 and other arterials give us even more reasons to agree with Richard Sullivan (Island Voices, Aug. 5).

He advocates buses on a separate busways instead of light rail.

A busway system would give us flexibility in an emergency. In an event like the Sept. 5 traffic tie-up, a tsunami, a hurricane or a terrorist attack, the paved busway could be taken over to allow medical, fire, police or military vehicles to bypass jammed highways.

Electric trains need overhead power wires and metal support frames, which, after a hurricane, would become dangerous debris. Restoration of transit service would take months.

The first completed miles will let existing buses bypass the worst bottlenecks. Why wait five years or more for the rail track and maintenance infrastructure to be built and the cars tested before the first passenger gets a ride?

HOMELESS

RECYCLING PROGRAM COULD PROVIDE JOBS

In your Sept. 8 article, "Homeless will get help: 300 beds, 400 units," I found myself asking one question — where is the plan for rehabilitation, affordable housing and job development so that these beds can remain empty?

I run a charity that recycles computers, and there are far more being disposed of daily than I can possibly accommodate.

We throw away hope when we trash computers. What will it take to to create a statewide computer recycling program that is operated by our rehabilitating homeless?

Imagine what would happen if every discarded computer was processed by those most in need. We would protect our landfill, we would provide jobs and we would certainly provide workforce development skills for every homeless person wanting a computer.

We recently had the honor to install five computers at the amazing Next Step shelter in Kaka'ako.

There is space in that vicinity to pilot this program, and folks like Utu and I can make it happen.